entertaining the baby

uta10 · October 2015

After work I have a few hours each day before the hubby gets home. I want to use the time well because I know this time/stage flies by, but I'm having trouble coming up with fun activities for the baby to fill the time. Right now we either go for a walk, read books, or use the play mat....but it's getting a little old (and the cooler weather is going to stop these walks soon!).

Anyone have any good ideas? I ordered infant safe finger paint today to make footprint art....trying to think of more fun ideas.

Thanks!!

lovethatcolosun · October 2015

Borrow someone's toddler. You'll never be board again.

A sensory experience might be fun. Find different textured objects around the house and let baby explore them. Also fun....visit the spice cabinet and let LO smell spices (from a safe distance obviously).

valeriemarie24 · October 2015

I know my LO loves to look at fish. Our library has a couple of tanks with different kinds of fish in each one and every time I take her there we stop to watch them swim around. If your library doesn't have a fish tank, try the pet store.
That's one thing that has thoroughly amused my daughter, it might be worth a shot. And she loves looking at Halloween decorations too.

YouAreMySunshine15 · October 2015

@valeriemarie24 neat idea with the fish!

uta10 · October 2015

Just going to the library even is a great idea, I wonder if they have infant books.... Haven't done that yet and I totally should! Like the sensory and fish ideas too, I might try to steal a few of the ideas they're doing at day care for the sensory and make bubbles for her to try to pop.

klkonwi · October 2015

We pretty much do those 3 things all day over and over !

then at the end of the day mommy drinks her wine !

KaLikeAWind · October 2015

klkonwi said:
We pretty much do those 3 things all day over and over ! then at the end of the day mommy drinks her wine !

This is how it is at our house too. Except I have a beer

janat1717 · October 2015

Ditto the fish, if you have a pet store it's a total win as there are bunnies sometimes too. Oh and my guy is obsessed with fall leaves so when I spot a good tree with low branches we go hangout by it. He grabs the leaves and pulls on them, kicks the branches with his feet. No tree is off limits, I've been known to get up in people's front yards around the neighborhood but whose going to kick a baby out?

valeriemarie24 · October 2015

Also, we took our LO swimming last week and she absolutely loved it. A lot of public pools are too cold but some rec centres have smaller 'hot pools' that are better for babies and small children.

Marcantonio · October 2015

We've added bouncer/jumper thing and lay baby on bed and bounce bed (lightly, she loves it!) to our baby circuit!

jessieR358 · October 2015

klkonwi said:
We pretty much do those 3 things all day over and over ! then at the end of the day mommy drinks her wine !

This is my day too. I don't mind it.

enigmaticjj · October 2015

I've also felt like in a rut with cycling through the same few things all day, so I love to hear what others are doing for ideas. Love the pet store idea...I've been wanting to do that.

Today I blew bubbles for her to see. She seemed entertained/intrigued.

slr1229 · October 2015

I only have about 40 minutes with her before we start eat, bath and bedtime routine so I feel like we don't get a chance to do all those things. We usually chat about our day (she loves to talk). Jealous of you all that have more time!

7425cait · October 2015

I can't do the pet store if they have dogs. I'll cry.

DD and I are going to our first baby and me class at the library. Figured I should take her out for something she might like instead of running errands all the time

KaLikeAWind · October 2015

I wish my library was more than it is. They just don't have much at all with it being such a small town. The children's area is really nice, and probably takes up a quarter of the library, but they don't really have any books for babies. There is a story time once a week, and there is no age limit or recommendation, but when I asked the lady at the library about bringing LO, she got a look on her face that makes me think its either not a good idea or not really ideal for a baby his age.
Its a bummer, actually. Guess we'll wait until he's just a bit bigger

7425cait · October 2015

@mellymar does your sister live near you? I wonder if you could go to her library with her card.

hudson202 · October 2015

One of the perks of daycare is that they have "all the toys." I get a report card at the end of the day that tells me what she had fun doing during the day. If there is a particular thing they say she loves, I try to get one for home (within reason). The latest is a pat and play water mat. I bet you could make one of these really easily with a zip lock bag and some water with glitter/sequins etc. Although at that point it might be over $6 and you should just buy the one on amazon.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00DJPK8MS/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?qid=1444914999&sr=8-1&pi=SX200_QL40&keywords=pat+and+play+water+mat&dpPl=1&dpID=51K37IsAqaL&ref=plSrch

KaLikeAWind · October 2015

cait7425 said:
@mellymar does your sister live near you? I wonder if you could go to her library with her card.

No.

I wish. Many states in the way.

valeriemarie24 · October 2015

mellymar said:
I wish my library was more than it is. They just don't have much at all with it being such a small town. The children's area is really nice, and probably takes up a quarter of the library, but they don't really have any books for babies. There is a story time once a week, and there is no age limit or recommendation, but when I asked the lady at the library about bringing LO, she got a look on her face that makes me think its either not a good idea or not really ideal for a baby his age.
Its a bummer, actually. Guess we'll wait until he's just a bit bigger

You should take him anyway just to test it out, and if he doesn't have the attention span for it or it doesn't work out, at least you tried. Reading for babies of all ages is a great idea.

I'm surprised that a librarian wouldn't be encouraging you to bring your baby and start introducing him to books at a young age. Doesn't sound very librarian-like to me.

KaLikeAWind · October 2015

^^ I think it was mostly because the other children are all toddler aged. Not that she discouraged it, just that it would be seriously outside the norm. And not to be a stuck up new mom, but I don't want a bunch of toddlers I don't even know sticking their hands and faces all up all over my 4m baby for half an hour of story time. I read to him every day so he gets books. I love books, and I want him to love them too, so he gets read to every day.

HayesRN13 · October 2015

My LO loves other kids, is fascinated by just watching them... So I'm excited for him to be starting daycare to get some change and entertainment, I think it's very good for him vs staying home with just mom everyday. (He will be going to daycare 3 days a week in the afternoon) He's always happy and extra tired... And covered in glitter when I pick him up...he has a good time

mindaa · October 2015

valeriemarie24 said:

Also, we took our LO swimming last week and she absolutely loved it. A lot of public pools are too cold but some rec centres have smaller 'hot pools' that are better for babies and small children.

We have a couple indoor private swim schools that offer free lessons for babies up to five months. We've been a couple times, it's been really fun. But after that, I'll probably switch to the cheap Rec Center lessons

I like to wear LO while I grocery shop, narrating as we go... "how many apples should we get? One, two, three, four." Then accidentally blurt out something inappropriate, like "ew, those avocados look terrible." or "well, that's way overpriced, we'll get it somewhere else."

hudson202, that water mat is so cool! But I also love that LO gets so much toy time and social time at daycare, so we don't feel like we need to keep as much of that stuff around.

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